Will Young has "gone dance". After four successful albums of mum-friendly pop, most would consider it a bold move; but punctuated by the ten-year anniversary of his Pop Idol win and recent retrospective, it feels right that he should be allowed to spread his wings.

He does just that on Echoes, and in the careful and graceful manner that one might naturally expect. Better still, he's hired electro-dance aficionado Richard X (Goldfrapp, MIA) to steer him through the genre's now-murky waters - the fruits of which can be heard in the triumphant lead single 'Jealousy'.

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

The precedent continues throughout the remaining 12 tracks. From the modish synths of sad disco-pop number 'Runaway' to the Pet Shop Boys-esque 'Personal Thunder' to the lounge-pop twinkles in 'Losing Myself', it's a style that allows the melodies and thoughtful lyrics to breathe with ease.

The result is a perfectly-crafted adult pop album; one that sounds contemporary without straw-clutching and classy without the pretension. The hands-in-the-air ballads 'Lie Next To Me' and 'Silent Valentine' prove that he's still the Will we've always known, just in a shinier, sharper and altogether more comfortable skin.